Closure for collapsible tubes



June 19, 1956 E F MURPHY 2,751,130

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Aug. l5, 1951 INVENTOR. WWA/QD /TMURPHY @www ATTV.'

CLOS FOR COLLAPSHBLE TUBES Edward F. Murphy, Chicago, lll.

Application August 3, 1951, Serial No. 240,176

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-509)1 The present invention relates to improvementsfor closures such as may be used for collapsible tubes, such tubes beingnormally used for tooth paste, shaving cream, art paint, etc.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a valvedclosure for collapsible tubes, to the end, that the closure or cap neednot be removed, after it is once applied, thus precluding the likelihoodof misplacing said cap as frequently occurs now when using collapsibletubes containing tooth paste, shaving cream, art paints, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valved cap forcollapsible tubes wherein the valve means can be readily operated topermit the discharge of the contents of the tube.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valved cap forcollapsible tubes, wherein the valve is so constructed as to precludethe likelihood of the valve sticking or otherwise becoming defective byreason of its contact with the contents of the tube.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cap and neck portionof a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the cap.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking at the opposite end fromthat shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the valve inopened position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the cap withthe mechanical parts removed.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the valve and operating means.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that reference character A denotes a conventionalcollapsible tube, such as is used for containing tooth paste, shavingcream, art paint, etc. and this tube has an externally threaded neck B,which is conventional.

The present invention is generally referred to by numeral 5 and consistsof a cylindrical cap 6 having a thickened lower apron portion 7,internally threaded to engage the threads of the neck B.

The cap 6 has a thickened top portion 8, certain side portions of thecap 6 sloping upwardly to this thickened portion 8 as shown in Figure 3.

The thickened portion 8 has a cylindrical bore 9 in which a plunger 10is slidable and this plunger 10 has a A(le reduced nipple 11 capable offitting within a small orifice 12 at one end of the thickened portion 8and the lower portion of the thickened portion 8 adjacent the orifice 12has a port 13 through which the contents of the tube A can pass to reachthe orifice 12 when the plunger 10 is retracted.

The plunger 10 has a rigid rod 14 projecting from its inner end andextending through the bearing 15 to normally extend outwardly into apocket 16 at the opposite end of the thickened portion 8 and at thispoint, the rod 14 pivotally connects to a hand lever 17, which isrockably connected to an ear 18 on the back wall of the pocket 16.

A coiled compression spring 19 is disposed around the rod 14 andinterposed between the inner end of the plunger 10 and the bearing 15,as is shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 6.

It can now be seen, that by pressing inwardly on the lower portion ofthe lever 17, the rod 14 will be pulled outwardly removing the nipple 11from the orifice 12 and when pressure is exerted on the tube A, thecontents of the tube will pass through the port 13 and orifice 12.

When the lever 17 is released, the spring 19 will force the plunger 10to left in Figure 1, resulting in the nipple 11 entering the orifice 12and securely closing off the outlet of material and leaving a cleanexterior of the cap 6. Very little wiping off, if any, will be necessaryfrom time to time to remove any particles that might excrete through theorifice 12 as the plunger 10 moves to closed position.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new 1s:

A device of the character described comprising a cap having aninternally threaded skirt for mounting upon a paint tube, and arelatively thick upper portion having a transverse cylindrical borethrough one side to a point adjacent the other side thereof, said otherside of said thick portion having an orifice therein and said thickportion having a port communicating with the interior of sad capadjacent said orifice, a cylindrical plunger slidably mounted in saidbore, a nipple atiixed to one end of said plunger and receivable in saidorifice, a bearing mounted in said bore at that end thereof remote fromsaid orifice, a rod atiixed to said plunger and extending through saidbearing, a lever mounted upon the outer side of said cap and pivotallyconnected to said rod, and a spring surrounding said rod and bearing atone end against said bearing and at its other end against said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS832,499 Nystrom et al. Oct. 2, 1906 872,536 Nystrom Dec. 3, 1907 991,725Kennedy May 9, 1911 1,804,760 Fox May l2, 1931 2,554,293 Brown May 22,1951 2,652,177 Lagemann Sept. 15, 1953

